ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday questioned the government’s decision to spend on the Rs 341 billion relief package for farmers without parliament’s approval.
A two-member bench of the apex court comprising Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan and Justice Qazi Faez Isa heard the case. During the course of proceedings, Justice Isa remarked that the money collected from masses through taxes was not property of the government.
The government should get approval from parliament before spending the amount, he told Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Akhtar Ausaf Ali, who cited Article 84 (b) of the constitution as a reference.
According to the mentioned article, he said, the government had the power to authorise expenditure from the Federal Consolidated Fund that later could be approved from parliament.
The court asked under which law the notification of farmers’ relief package was issued. The attorney general replied that there was no specific law but the administration had the right to spend money according to the constitution.
The court directed Attorney General Akhtar Ausaf Ali to submit reply and adjourned hearing of the case till May 26.
